I like to choose my own meals, but with that freedom come restrictions, so I don’t go to fast food places. I don’t like being forced to eat something healthy.
Without even trying
Actually, after my first appointment, I came back [to the clinic] and I wasn’t even trying to lose weight– I just trying to maintain my weight. But I actually lost five pounds! I wasn’t even trying. It’s mostly from not drinking juice and exercising more. Usually I do sports, but if you can’t join a team, just play outside in your backyard and it will work just as well.
Helping yourself
My assignment has been to walk four times a week for 20 minutes. I find that I walk more than I have to, because you feel good afterwards; you’ve done something to help yourself lose weight.
I walk a lot. I used to sit around on weekends and watch a whole bunch of TV, and now I walk a lot. I actually go out every day on public transportation and walk to different places. I don’t stay in the house anymore. I’m learning how to be active outside instead of active in the television world.
Making better decisions
I only went to the clinic for the first time yesterday, but afterwards I made smaller portions of my lunch and dinner, and this morning I had a less carb filled breakfast than I usually do. Instead of a muffin, I had a piece of wheat bread with peanut butter on it, which is supposed to be better for me. I plan to make better decisions about what I eat and to exercise more.
A step closer
I really like trying vegetables, because then that I know I am a step closer to getting a reward– not one that has to do with food, but one that I can have fun with. Also, I got a replacement for ice cream, and I like the replacement better because I know that it is better for me. It actually tastes better too.
Since coming to the program, I changed my eating habits a lot, and I try to exercise some. Also, I can’t eat pasta anymore; I can’t eat carbohydrates or lots of sugar. But I can eat all the meat and vegetables I want.
Little changes
Sometimes my weight is difficult, because my body temperature goes up as it gets hot. I get overheated* very easily, so it’s hard to do stuff in the middle of the day. So I look for ways to exercise in the evenings. Also, with my eating, I made little changes, like making sure to eat at regular intervals, watching the amount I eat, and really cutting down on starches. I’m eating more vegetables and proteins, and I’m really conscious of things. That made a huge difference.
Choosing my own meals
I like to choose my own meals, because then when I choose the right foods I can feel proud of myself, and I don’t have someone bugging me about it.
List of foods
What we eat has changed since coming to the clinic. We don’t eat sugar or pasta anymore; we make a menu from the list of foods the nutritionist made up for us. There are things that we can and can’t eat that were discussed with us in the program. Some things I want to eat but I can’t eat.
My eating habits have changed a lot since coming to the program. I’ve learned to eat smaller portions and to watch out for all of the bad things that you should stay away from. My exercise habits have also changed a lot. I went out and bought a treadmill and I’ve been using it; that really helped.
A reward
It feels good to change the way you eat, because there is a reward. When you work hard at it and then you hear that you lost 5 pounds, it’s really rewarding. But it’s hard to do.
Trying new things
I pick different snacks for myself, and mom does the lunches and suppers. The only time I choose what I eat is snacks and breakfasts. But I like to help pick, because most of the time I have the same old thing, and I want to try new things that I can still have.
Football
Since I started the program, I eat a little bit healthier, and I work out. I’ve been going to the football field with my dad, and we’ve been kicking the football around and stretching and running.
Football Coach
One of my motivators is my football coach. I want to lose weight so that I can play football better.
In terms of exercise, I’ve been working out a lot and playing sports. I’ve kept up my motivation. The clinicians at the clinic tell me good things, and say that I’m making a difference for myself.
Holidays
My grandma lets me cheat on holidays only, and I think that it’s fair to cheat on holidays, but only on holidays. Holidays don’t really come around that often, and I just think that it’s fair for a person to cheat at least once in a while.
Cooking for yourself
What helped to keep me motivated was realizing that I lost the weight, so I could do things that other children who don’t weigh as much do. And there are other motivators too, like you’ll be able to play more sports, and you won’t be embarrassed about yourself. You just have to keep up with the meal plan. Cooking is not hard; it’s easy and fun to cook meals for yourself, and the recipes taste good.
Anything you want
I make exercise fun by thinking that I can do anything. Exercise is just moving around doing different kinds of stuff. So I make it fun and do different things like dancing and exercise videos and the cha cha– anything! I do basketball and swimming, and I’m also going to play soccer in the fall. That’s why exercise is so much fun because it can be anything you want.